Court Report

Thu, 06/27/2013 - 5:07pm

UNCLE CHARGED ALSO IN GRANDDAUGHTER'S ASSAULT CASE

A man has been charged on allegations that he assaulted his 8-year-old niece, and is facing charges of third degree Assault and Endangering the Welfare of Child, which are both class A misdemeanors. Each count is punishable up to one year in jail, a fine of up to $1,000 or both.

In this matter Ieti Naufau has co-defendants, who are the victim’s grandparents, Taumaoe and Leoloa Fa’amasino.

The grandparents are being held at the Tafuna Correctional Facility after they failed to post bond and their matter is currently pending in the High Court. The grandfather, Taumaoe, is held on bail of $25,000 on three counts of second degree assault while his wife is held on $20,000 bail, facing one count of second degree assault. Additionally they are both facing a count of endangering the welfare of a child.

Naufau is represented by the Public Defender’s office while prosecuting is Assistant Attorney General Julie Pasquale.

The incident was reported to police by an official from the Matatula Elementary School in Alao and Detective Gaui Seanoa was assigned to investigate.

According to the government’s case, CM is an 8-year-old third grader, who had been absent from school from Feb. 14 through Feb. 26, 2013. CM returned to school on Feb. 27, where it is alleged she had bruises on her face and arms, and a black eye.

The lead investigator spoke to CM, who first said it was Naufau who assaulted her, but the second time CID Detectives interviewed CM, she said her grandmother beat her also, but the grandmother told her to blame her uncle for the injuries from the February incident.

Court filings say, in the second interview, CM told police it was her grandmother who had beat her in February 2013 with a back-scratch stick and she was beaten many times with objects, including a stick, pipe or wire cord, and afterwards the grandmother would keep her home from school until the bruises disappeared.

The grandfather is accused of strangling the 8-year-old girl, according to court documents.

During their investigation, police spoke with the uncle and the grandmother, and each alleged beatings of CM by the other, with Naufau informing the police he has slapped CM on her hands and legs, while Leoloa the grandmother “constantly beats CM in a worse manner,” court documents say.

The uncle further told police that the grandmother assaulted CM with a pipe in January 2013, causing the girl to suffer bruising to the face and to be absent from school; another incident allegedly occurred wherein she suffered bruises all over her face and body and had to miss a week of school.

The uncle further stated that one time the grandmother “strangled CM about her neck with her hands”, afterwards leaving bruises, which were inquired about by school employees, say court filings.

The uncle told police that he is the victim’s uncle and allegedly admitted that in February there was an incident where he beat her, say court filings.

According to the government’s case, an official of Matatula Elementary School, told police in late November 2012 that she observed CM with bruises on her face. The school official further informed police that CM was absent from school Jan. 14 thru Jan. 18, 2013, then absent again Feb. 14 thru Feb. 26.

The defendant in this matter has entered a plea of not guilty and denies the allegations.

MAN ACCUSED OF ASSAULTING HIS DAD HELD ON $150,000 BAIL

First degree Assault and Public Peace Disturbance has been filed in the government’s case against Mark Mulipola on allegations that he struck his father with a machete on Sunday around 1:00p.m.

The incident occurred in the village of Malaeimi, say court filings. The government yesterday filed additional charges and set bail in this matter for $150,000. The Assault count is a class A felony which is punishable up to life imprisonment, or a jail term from 10 to 30 years.

According to court filings, police received a call from a resident in Malaeimi, who lives near the area where the incident occurred, requesting assistance and also asking for Emergency Medical Services (EMS).

According to the government’s case, the defendant is mentally challenged. The defendant was apprehended and placed under police custody at the Tafuna Correctional Facility. Court filings allege the defendant used a machete to strike his father several times.

The father is currently admitted to the LBJ surgical ward, following emergency operations performed due to the severity of his injuries.

The Preliminary Examination has been scheduled for today, before District Court Judge John Ward. The defendant in this matter entered a plea of not guilty and denies the allegations.

FAASEGA MOANANU HELD ON $25,000 BAIL IN ASSAULT CASE

The government has filed Assault first degree and Public Peace Disturbance against Faasega Moananu of Pago Pago who allegedly struck another man with a PVC pipe.

Moananu is represented by the Public Defender’s Officer. Court filings say, the victim told police he was giving the defendant’s son a haircut then he took a nap. Upon waking up the victim noticed that the defendant’s son cut his hair while sleeping so he slapped the defendant’s son.

The boy who was crying ran home and the defendant’s oldest daughter called out to the victim as to why her brother was crying. It’s alleged the victim was trying to explain why he slapped the boy, however the defendant attempted to choke the victim, at least three times.

Court filings say, the victim kept apologizing yet the defendant allegedly grabbed a long metal object and struck the victim on his left arm seven times and also struck the victim on the head, and the victim became unconscious. It's reported police found the weapon allegedly used in the in the incident.

The government claims the victim sustained major bruises on his left arm and on the neck. He also sustained a laceration which required four stitches. The victim was treated and released. Court filings say, people in the area witnessed the incident taking place.